- September 29, 2021
20 Best Halloween Movies for Kids
Home >> Halloween Movies >> Horror Movies for Kids
Halloween is almost here and everyone is already excited about it. Kids are especially eager for this holiday to arrive and it’s no wonder since they get to go Trick or Treating, make their Halloween costumes and eat plenty of candy. Since this is a “spooky” season that everyone enjoys and loves you will want to watch some spooky movies with your kids.
However, you don’t want to expose them to something too scary that’s going to keep them up during the night. That is why we have come up with a list of the best Halloween movies for kids that you can enjoy as a family.
So, make plenty of popcorn, choose some of these and have the best Halloween.
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Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
This 90s classic is truly a movie that you should play to your kids, and you will get to rewatch it and remember your childhood. Let your kids enjoy the great works of Tim Burton and find out what happens when the Pumpkin King is totally over Halloween.
Also, they will enjoy following Jack Skellington through Christmas Town and sharing his adventure. His plan is good but it’s pictured through goof and macabre and your little ones will have some laugh.
But, since this is the “nightmare before Christmas” there will be some spooky moments. And because the movie is a little dark, you shouldn’t let your younger kids watch it.
Nevertheless, this is an absolute visual delight, filled with great Halloween-themed songs that the whole family will enjoy. This movie is recommended for boys and girls of 8 years old and up.
Benefits:
- Adventurous
- Goofy and entertaining
- A work of art, classic
Toy Story of Terror!
If your little one enjoys following Woody and the rest of the Toy Story gang, then they will enjoy a bit spooky version as well.
In Toy Story of Terror, the gang goes to the motel where Mr. Pickle pants mysteriously goes missing. The rest of the toys then suddenly start disappearing as well, while the rest of them try to find them.
This is really a playful homage to the horror film genre and it’s silly enough for the young ones to watch it. Plus, the movie is entertaining enough for the adults as well, so you can all enjoy it together.
However, this one is a bit short, but it will provide plenty of fun for the kids since their attention span is still a bit short. The Toy Story of Terror is suitable for all the boys and girls of 5 years old and up. Younger ones might be too spooked or wouldn’t be able to follow the plot.
Benefits:
- New moments with old Toy Story gang
- Fun and entertaining
- A bit short, which is great for the kids’ attention span
Double Double Toil and Trouble
If you enjoyed watching the Olsen twins when you were a kid, it’s time you introduce them to your little ones.
Double Double Toil and Trouble is about a family business losing money and they are at risk of losing their home as well. However, the twins use a bit of magic to save it.
This is one of the top-rated kids Halloween movies and your little ones are certainly going to enjoy it.
There is magic, spells, wizards, and witches, but besides all the spooky Halloween elements, the movie is about family.
Benefits:
- Magical elements
- Teaches about family
- Entertainment for the whole family
Mary and The Witch's Flower
Just when you thought that there are no more good Halloween movies for kids, the director of When Marnie Was There gave us this great movie in 2018.
This movie is about witches and magic and it’s about one girl who discovers a flower that grants her magical powers but only for one night. Then, the magical flower brings Mary – the protagonist – into the enchanted Endor College and there are some suspenseful scenes with characters in peril.
This dazzling adventure is done in Japanese cartoon style – anime – and it’s a great family movie. It will teach your kids about bravery, but because of some darker scenes, it’s not the best for younger kids.
Benefits:
- Fun and educational
- Family movie
- Magical elements and adventure
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween!
You have probably already read Cat in the Hat books to your child, and now it’s time for them to see this masterpiece on the big screen.
In The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Halloween, the Cat takes Nick and Sally on a Halloween ride. Their adventure is filled with howlers and shockers, and some scary fandangles, but it will bring much joy, big laughs and great music to all of you.
On their adventure, they will be brought deep into the Ooky-ma-kooky Closet, where the kids will find the best Halloween costume ever.
This is really one of the funniest Halloween movies for kids and they will certainly enjoy following this adventure and they will love the rhymes of The Cat in the Hat.
Benefits:
- Adventurous and educational
- Great music and fun rhymes
- Timeless classic
Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island
Almost every Scooby-Doo cartoon is spooky and scary, but the “monsters” end up being actual people.
This one, on the other hand, is a bit different because the monsters are real, so that brings us a bit stronger scary element. However, if you loved Scooby-Doo when you were a kid, your little ones are bound to like it as well.
They will enjoy the adventure of the main characters where they end up on a haunted island to investigate the ghost of Moonscar the Pirate. However, they will encounter plenty of other monsters here, which will give them the fright.
Nevertheless, even though a bit scarier than the rest of the Scooby-Doo adventures, your kids will enjoy watching Scooby getting scared and realizing scared screams and sounds, but you should probably play this to your older children.
Benefits:
- Brings laughs and entertainment
- Educational and fun
- Classic Scooby-Doo adventure
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Another one from the Scooby-Doo collection is this adventure of Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost.
In this one, the gang is on an adventure of finding the witch’s ghost. It all starts when one of the most famous horror writers Ben Ravencroft tracks down the Mystery Inc. team and joins them to figure out why a ghost has decided to torment his hometown and its Autumn Harvest festival.
This is probably one of the most fun and lovable Halloween movies for kids, and your little ones will even enjoy re-watching it every year.
Benefits:
- Halloween themed
- Fun and brings laughs
- Great for the whole family
Lego Scooby-Doo: Haunted Hollywood
This is another Scooby-Doo adventure, but this time it’s done in Lego style.
The movie is set in a Lego world and Scooby and the gang are trying to rescue one old movie studio. The biggest threat here is the threats by the developers and there are a series of scary movie monsters haunting Hollywood.
Watching the Lego-style movies is certainly fun and it’s a different view of the Scooby-Doo adventures. It’s certainly worth watching on Halloween because it will bring the spooks and laughs for the whole family.
Benefits:
- Great Scooby-Doo adventure
- Spooky and funny
Hotel Transylvania
Hotel Transylvania is one of the most popular Halloween movies for kids because it gives a very kid-friendly twist on typical horror movies.
Here we have Count Dracula operating a high-end resort that is located far away from humankind. One day, when Jonathan stumbles upon it and falls in love with Count’s daughter Mavis who is protecting him from Count Dracula and finding out that this “undead” hotel has a human guest.
What is probably the most amusing about this movie is that great comedy actors, such as Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Fran Drescher, David Spade, and Kevin James, with their voices, really bring these characters into life.
Benefits:
- Fun characters
- Plenty of funny elements
- Educational
Hotel Transylvania 2
The sequel to Hotel Transylvania is definitely fun for the whole family. The old gang, Dracula, Johnny, and Mavis are on a fresh new adventure with plenty of old characters recurring and some new ones are introduced as well.
According to some fans, this sequel is a bit better than the first one because it provides plenty of humor that is great for adults as well.
Also, the movie teaches a lot about family and friends, while there are some tense scenes great for Halloween’s spooky theme.
Benefits:
- Fun and brings laughs
- Teaches about family values
- New adventures with old characters
Hotel Transylvania 3
There is another fun sequel to Hotel Transylvania, and once again we are going on an adventure with our favorite characters and monsters.
This time, they all embark on a monster cruise vacation and there are plenty of adventures, spooky moments and laughable memories to be relieved with them.
Even though the sequels don’t usually live up to the first movie made, these kids Halloween movies that come in a trilogy didn’t disappoint and the third one is as great as the previous two.
Here, your little one gets to enjoy the fun and spooky adventures, while there is enough complex humor that adults will enjoy as well. It is a movie for the whole family to truly enjoy and love.
Benefits:
- Educational
- Fun and adorable
- Adventurous and a bit spooky
- Great for all ages
Halloweentown
In this Halloween movie classic, Marnie Piper is living in a household that can’t stand Halloween and she has a tough time with that fact.
But, there is a twist, since she will soon find out the best thing about herself and that is that she is a witch with magical powers.
However, her mother and grandmother don’t like that fact and she overhears their conversation and sets off to see for herself if Halloweentown is real.
But, even though she is on an adventure, she learns that “with great power comes great responsibility” and finds herself in more trouble she expected.
Benefits:
- Teaches about responsibility
- Fun and adventurous
- Great for older kids
The Dog Who Saved Halloween
Every kid loves movies with animals, especially dogs, as lead actors. So, you can expect that your little one is going to love this Halloween themed movie about a dog who saves this holiday.
Zeus and the Bannister move to a new house just in time for Halloween. Everything seems great there until they notice some strange lights and sounds coming from the neighbor Eli’s house.
Then George decides to investigate and find out what’s happening and asks for help from this great duo. And after some mishaps and spooky moments, Zeus is left to save Halloween.
This is a great Halloween gift for your kids and another great movie about family values and how pets can help them, but there are some eery moments too.
Benefits:
- Teaches about family and value of pets
- Fun and spooky
- Great for the whole family
Goosebumps
R.L. Stine is probably the best writer of creepy, crawly 90s YA horror stories and now there is a live-action movie based on the said series and everyone is excited about it.
However, this movie is for young adults, and your younger kids probably shouldn’t watch it. The lead role here is Jack Black and he leads the charge with a kooky story filled with laughs.
The plot is about a tween Zach Cooper who has a big crush on his neighbor Hannah, but she has a super protective Dad.
Also, they are on a mission to save the town from a certain disaster which is a bit spooky and maybe to complex for younger kids to understand.
Benefits:
- Based on a book
- Spooky and funny
- Educational
Goosebumps 2
Goosebumps 2 is a great sequel to Goosebumps and your kids will love it. In this one, three friends are on an adventure that is fun but somewhat spooky.
They have accidentally released Slappy and now they must lock that evil puppet away into the Stine’s book, along with his creepy creatures.
However, some fans don’t agree that this is one of the best Halloween movies for kids, but if you give it a try, your kids might enjoy it.
Benefits:
- Intense adventures
- Fun and educational
- Magical elements
Monster House
This is probably one of the highest-rated kids Halloween movies and it’s for a bit older audience.
In this movie, one house stands out from the other ones in the street, and a teenager DJ knows it. However, he doesn’t manage to convince the police and his babysitter that that house is actually a living monster.
That is why DJ and his friends decide to embark on a crazy adventure hoping to save the people that were eaten by the house.
If you know that your kid is prone to anxiety, then they should probably skip this one, but if your kids really enjoy horror movies, they will really love rewatching this one.
Benefits:
- Great for young horror enthusiasts
- Educational
- Filled with adventure
Hocus Pocus
There is no better way to spend Halloween than by watching a movie about three evil witches.
This is probably one of the most famous Halloween movies for kids and it takes you back to the 1600s where Sanderson sisters cast a spell that killed a girl and turned her brother into an immortal black cat.
Then, we fast forward to the 90s to meet Max Dennison who moves to Salem and accidentally summons back the Sanderson sisters. And this is where the adventure starts.
However, this movie is a bit gorry for the younger kids, so spare them since it might scare them a lot. But for kids aged 10 and up this is a perfect movie that will scare them a bit, and it is a great throwback for all the adults who adored Hocus Pocus when they were little.
Benefits:
- Scary but fun
- Great throwback
- Educational
Casper
Everyone loves Casper the friendly ghost, and your kids are bound to adore him as well. The plot here is that instead of inheriting her father’s millions, Carrigan gets only his broken-down mansion.
However, she soon realizes that she needs to boot the troublesome ghosts that call it home in order to really claim the house.
She then hires Dr. James Harvey, an afterlife therapist who moves in there and his daughter Kat meets Casper, the only friendly ghost in the mansion.
They all team up and work together to help the other spirits cross over to the other side and rid the mansion of ghosts.
For all the parents this is a great trip down the memory lane of spooky 90s movies, and your kids, no matter how young will certainly love meeting Casper the friendly ghost.
Benefits:
- Spooky but fun
- Kid-friendly
- Teaches about friendship
The Adams Family
The Addams Family is probably one of the most popular kids Halloween movies and your tweens are going to like it.
It is about Uncle Fester who is coming back to reunite with his family, but there is something strange. They are all kooky and spooky and everyone suspects that this man isn’t really from the Addams family since he behaves strangely.
The movie also features an all-star cast, including Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston, and every household adores this scary and unusual family.
Benefits:
- Kooky and spooky
- Perfect for Halloween
- Teaches about strong family relationship
The Haunted Mansion
This movie is based on the popular Disneyland attraction and the main star is Eddie Murphy. He is a comedian that many kids adore, and here he is on an adventure.
He is a real estate agent who suddenly finds himself in a haunted mansion filled with grim and grinning ghosts.
It’s not really recommended for the younger kids because of the scary intense moments, and it’s much easier for older kids to follow the plot.
But the whole family can get some laughs and enjoy some spooky ghosts on Halloween.
Benefits:
- Comedic and fun
- Classic Eddie Murphy movie
- Fun for the whole family
How to Choose a Good Halloween Movie for Kids
There are dozens of good Halloween movies for kids and it’s sometimes hard to choose only one or two to watch. However, there are some things to consider when choosing the best kids’ Halloween movies for your family to watch.
The first one is how scary the movie is. Not all kids like being scared and watching something that will spook them. If that’s the case with your little ones, you should probably stick to the ones that are animated and released a bit more recently. Older spooky movies for kids are a tad bit scarier and the live versions may scare your kids too much or make them believe those ghosts and monsters are real.
This leads us to the second thing you should consider and that’s age appropriateness. Some movies have plots that are a bit more complex for younger kids. Also, since they are all a bit spooky, some of them may include too tense scenes or too scary masks. That is why you should always read the recommended age or decide on yourself and based on your kids’ preferences if the movie is appropriate for their age.
Criteria We Used
Not every movie is created equal, and young kids really shouldn’t watch any movie given to them. That is why we considered age appropriateness and how educational movies are on this list. These two factors combined will provide only the best experience for your child.
Age Appropriateness
Younger kids are easily spooked since they still find it hard to distinguish what’s real and what’s make-believe. That is why every movie comes with a recommended age, but all of them have comedy elements. Even though most of the Halloween movies for kids are a bit scary, since they are themed, they all still have that innocence, joy, and jokes that will make the movie lighter and suited for kids.
Educational Factor
Even though scary movies tend to scare you, they all carry some important messages. All of these movies, no matter if they are animated or live-action, teach your kids about life, responsibilities and other values in life. Some of them emphasize the importance of friendship, some of them focus on more a family aspect, but they all teach us that with great power comes great responsibility and that teamwork is important.
FAQ
Can my child watch scary movies?
As mentioned, not every movie is created equal, but when it comes to kids Halloween movies, they are all carefully created not to scare the kids too much. There are a few jump scares, but you will know if the kid likes a certain movie by their reactions. It’s perfectly safe to watch them if your kid knows what’s make-believe.
Do I need to follow the recommended age of a movie?
You definitely should. Movies have these marks for a reason. Some of the movies might have too complex plots that your kid won’t understand and they won’t enjoy the movie. Also, some content may be too explicit for a younger child or too scary.
Conclusion
Halloween is a magical holiday and every kid loves it. Besides going Trick or Treating and eating candy, they will certainly enjoy watching a scary movie with their family and friends. So, since this magical holiday is near, take a look at this list, find your favorites and grab some popcorns, because movie nights are about to happen.
Catherine is a writer from Canada who simply loves toys, collectibles and superhero figurines. Writing is her passion, but she also loves reading, enjoying her “me time” and finding new ways to improve her work and ways to entertain the readers.
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